Grahams Grove, Penhorn, Westphal & Main Active Transportation Connections
Find project documents in the right-hand menu. Scroll down to view diagrams of proposed street changes and information about upcoming public engagement opportunities. Our goal is to improve safety and access to cycling and pedestrian infrastructure for all ages and abilities and we want to hear from you.
Project Overview
Active transportation improvements are being considered for several streets in Dartmouth, including portions of the Highway 111 interchange, Main Street, Tacoma Drive, Prince Albert Road, Harris Road, and more.
The project will aim to improve safety, access and connectivity for active transportation users through improved pedestrian infrastructure and new all-ages-and-abilities (AAA) cycling connections along several streets identified in the Integrated Mobility Plan and Active Transportation Priorities Plan.
For this project, a “complete streets” approach will be applied in order to “meet the needs of all ages, abilities and travel modes in the design and maintenance of streets”. As one of the foundational policies of the Integrated Mobility Plan, the complete streets approach uses a holistic, flexible, and context-sensitive approach to designing new streets or changes to existing streets. Designs will prioritize pedestrians and cyclists while also considering transit, accessibility, urban forestry, vehicle traffic, and other factors.
The goals of the project are to make the following connections:
- Lake Banook Multi-use Pathway to Penhorn Multi-use Pathway
- Prince Albert Road to Waverley Road
- Waverley Road to Lakecrest Drive
- Lakecrest Drive to Tacoma Drive
- Prince Albert Road to Main Street
- Harris Road to Valleyfield Road
- Lake Banook Multi-use Pathway between active transportation bridge and Micmac Boulevard on-ramp
- Tacoma Drive from Gordon Avenue to Valleyfield Road
Local Street Bikeway facilities are being considered for a number of streets in the area as a way to achieve new bike network connections. These streets are:
- Prince Albert Road (between Grahams Grove and Harris Road)
- Harris Road
- Oakwood Avenue
- Maple Drive
- Plymouth Road (between Maple Drive and Raymond Street)
- Raymond Street
- Lakecrest Drive (west of the Hartlen Street multi-use pathway)
Local street bikeways are bicycle routes on local (often residential) streets, which may be modified to lower vehicle speeds and volumes, allowing people to share the road comfortably without the need for designated bicycle lanes.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
ROUND 1 - Complete
Formative public engagement for the project concluded in fall 2022. A summary of the feedback received during that phase can be found in the initial engagement What We Heard Report.
ROUND 2: Ongoing
The draft concepts are now available for public review. Street design options have been developed based in part on the formative engagement and are subject to change based on feedback we receive during the draft engagement.
Upcoming engagement activities:
- POP-UP: Sunday, Sept. 22| 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Fairbanks Interpretive Centre Lawn, 54 Locks Road, Dartmouth, NS
- OPEN HOUSE: Saturday, Sept. 28| 1-4 p.m. at Kiwanis Centre, 45 Grahams Grove, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 1X6
- ONLINE OPEN HOUSE: Thursday, Sept. 26| 7-8 p.m. on Zoom (registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpcOCorz8uG90-d-FftQkGTCVZcpuu_UHM )
View the proposed concept designs.
Dartmouth East Active Transportation Project
Another active transportation project is currently taking place adjacent to the Grahams Grove, Penhorn, Westphal & Main study area. The objective of the Dartmouth East Active Transportation Project is to design cycling infrastructure along Woodlawn Road, Valleyfield Road, Mount Edward Road, Caledonia Road and Breeze Drive. These roadways were identified in the Active Transportation Priorities Plan to better connect residential neighbourhoods to important destinations along Main Street and Portland Street as well as the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) and Woodlawn High School. Public engagement was completed in December 2022, which included presenting concept designs for feedback.
Context
What is Active Transportation?
The term “active transportation” (or “AT”) encompasses all modes of non-motorized or human-powered transportation. This includes walking and wheeling (referring to the use of assistive devices), cycling, roller blading, skateboarding and more. It also includes low-speed electric forms of transportation like e-bikes and electric wheelchairs.
Some people depend on active transportation to get where they need to go, due to a lack of alternatives, while others choose to use active transportation as a preferred form of commute, exercise, recreation or leisure.
What is Active Transportation Infrastructure?
Active transportation infrastructure usually refers to specially designed routes, such as sidewalks, bike lanes, multi-use pathways, trails and local street bikeways. Active transportation is enhanced when it includes complete streets elements like seating, signage and green space.
Active transportation improves the physical and mental health of users, reduces carbon footprints, attracts visitors and boosts local businesses through increased traffic. When done well, infrastructure improvements that support active transportation often improve equity and accessibility, creating safer, more comfortable and more convenient routes for everyone.
The Integrated Mobility Plan
This project is part of a municipal-wide initiative to connect communities, and make neighbourhoods more comfortable places to bike, walk or roll called the Integrated Mobility Plan. This plan intends to improve transportation links between residents and their communities. The IMP focuses on creating connected, healthy, affordable and sustainable travel options, and provides direction to create active transportation infrastructure like sidewalks, pathways, transit options and road changes.
The Active Transportation Priorities Plan
The Active Transportation Priorities Plan identifies projects for the Municipality, with the purpose of doubling the number of residents who chose to walk or bike for trips to work, school, shopping and services. The plan includes recommendations for active transportation facilities, maintenance, promotions and events, and education. https://www.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/transportation/transportation-projects/AT_Plan_Final_July222014_000.pdf
Grahams Grove, Penhorn, Westphal & Main Active Transportation Connection Interactive Map
Introduction
Welcome to the interactive map for Active Transportation Connections for Grahams Grove, Penhorn, Westphal, and Main! Improvements are being considered for several streets in Dartmouth, and we want your input.
Initial engagement on this project is taking place throughout the fall of 2022, and we want to hear what it’s like to walk, roll, or bike in this area and what pedestrian and cycling connections you would like to see. We’ll be accepting comments on this map until November 30, 2022.
Project Description
Improvements are being considered for several streets at the intersection of the Grahams Grove, Penhorn, Westphal, and Main communities in Dartmouth. The project will aim to improve safety and access for active transportation users through improved pedestrian infrastructure and new all-ages-and-abilities (AAA) cycling connections along several streets identified in the Integrated Mobility Plan (IMP) and Active Transportation Priorities Plan.
The goals of the project are to make the following connections:
- Lake Banook Multi-use Pathway to Penhorn Multi-use Pathway
- Lake Banook Multi-use Pathway between active transportation bridge and Micmac Boulevard on-ramp
- Prince Albert Road to Waverley Road
- Waverley Road to Main Street
- Main Street to Tacoma Drive where it meets Gordon Avenue
- Prince Albert Road to Main Street
- Harris Road to Valleyfield Road
Cycling connections along Prince Albert Road and Harris Road were proposed as local street bikeways within the Integrated Mobility Plan, as part of the Regional Centre AAA Cycling Network. Local street bikeways are bicycle routes on local (often residential) streets, which may be modified to lower vehicle speeds and volumes, allowing people to share the road comfortably without the need for designated bicycle lanes. The suitability of local street bikeways in these locations is still being reviewed.
